Robbie Fowler has emerged as the bookies' favourite to take over the vacant managers role at Oxford United.

The club is currently searching for a new manager after long-serving boss Karl Robinson was sacked over the weekend.

Robinson's last game came on Saturday (February 25) in a 3-0 loss to Bristol Rovers, a seventh defeat in eight games, with the announcement coming a day after.

READ MORE: Sunderland Under-21 boss in running for Oxford United manager's job

The club is currently weighing up their options in the search for a new manager as the existing coaching staff of Craig Short, Leon Blackmore-Such and Wayne Brown take charge of the first team in the meantime.

thisisoxfordshire: Click here to sign up to the Oxford United newsletter Click here to sign up to the Oxford United newsletter (Image: Newsquest)

The former Liverpool and England striker Fowler is now BetVictor's favourite with odds at 5/2, at the time of writing.

Fowler was spotted helping out in the warm-up last August in the lead-up to the 5-0 thrashing of Leyton Orient and was coaching at the club "on a casual basis", according to Robinson.

At the time, Robinson said: "It’s not a consistent thing, he’ll come in every now and then if he’s free - he’s got a very busy lifestyle, as you’d imagine.

"Sometimes it’s not so much what he does, but what he says.

He added: “Having him in an Oxford United kit is incredible for the brand.

“It’s just something he’s doing short term, popping in and giving a bit of advice.”

ALSO READ: Former Oxford United coach 'top contender' for job alongside Michael Appleton

His teenage son, Jacob, joined United’s academy on a two-year scholarship around the same time after impressing on trial.

Fowler has previously managed Muangthong United, Brisbane Roar and East Bengal.

Meanwhile, early favourite and former United manager Michael Appleton’s odds have drifted from 10/11 to now being priced at 7/2.

On Monday (February 27), Alan Nixon, football writer for the Sun, reported he’s heard United are interested in Appleton whilst George Elek said he was led to believe Appleton was "very interested in the job" on BBC Radio Oxford.

Former Peterborough manager Grant McCann has seen his odds shortened to 11/4, previously 8/1 on Monday.

Shrewsbury Town manager, Steve Cotterill has also seen his odds shortened from 8/1 to 4/1.

Whilst Neil Critchley has been removed from the market.

Sunderland Under-21s manager Graeme Murty is understood to be one of the candidates in the running to become the new manager with odds at 12/1.

It is not believed that the club have approached Sunderland but the Black Cats would be unlikely to stand in Murty’s way if he was offered a managerial position and expressed an interest in taking it.

Whilst, it was reported that former united coach Des Buckingham was a "top contender" for the job with the bookies' giving him odds of 12/1.

Former United club captain and Portsmouth manager ruled himself out of the running earlier this week. 

These odds are correct at the time of writing. To view the latest odds please visit here.